Page 14 of Fallen
But then Lily mentioned bait and Jace hopped onboard. Gerald was ecstatic, telling Lev that he’d be able to practice his magic which is great except for the fact that it’s our mate who will be in danger. I hate it. I hate it so goddamn much.
And yet, it’s the only good plan we have.
I huff out a sigh as Lev slips out of the passenger seat and smooths down his suit before heading toward the entrance. I can’t even hang by his side if this is going to work. Gerald pulls up in his sleek car beside us, Lily and Jace piling out as well. They’re all impeccably dressed—we all are—courtesy of Gerald’s bank account but that doesn’t make me feel any better.
“He’ll be just fine,” Gerald murmurs.
I glare at him, not believing that for a second. “Why do I feel like you keep pushing him toward something? Like you’re testing him?” Gerald doesn’t answer me but I don’t expect him to. I follow Amand into the gala, confused when I find the absence of Lev’s scent. He told us before that he would mimic another creature’s scent but it’s still strange not to immediately lock on to him. When I finally find him, I relax a little bit but my beast is on edge.
The uncertainty in Lev’s eyes this morning, the way he blamed himself for trusting Silas, for not seeing Elias coming almost had me stopping this whole operation. It makes me want to rip both twins apart, but right now, my focus is on keeping Lev safe.
He’s near the dance floor now, his movements awkward as he tries to blend in. He’s mimicking a fox shifter, complete with a bushy tail that’s more hindrance than help. I smirk despite myself as he trips over it, catching himself on a table with a muttered curse. Amand chuckles, leaning closer. “Graceful,” he murmurs, and I know Lev would flip us off if he heard.
Lev’s out of his element in this glitzy chaos, but he’s trying, his green eyes sharp as he scans the crowd. He’s playing the part as a vulnerable, nervous, shifter, the kind Elias would target but I can feel his tension through the bond. Lev’s ability to shift into something else will intrigue Elias and bring him forth but ultimately, it might only be Lev’s real form that will grab the unicorn’s attention.
Regardless, at least we know what he looks like.
A fae in a shimmering gown sidles up to him, her hand grazing his arm, and my beast snarls. Lev flashes a charming smile, deflecting her with a quip I can’t hear, but it’s enough to make her laugh and move on. Good. The last thing we need is a flirtatious distraction. But then a wolf shifter approaches, his eyes glinting with interest, and I’m moving before I think.
Amand grabs my arm, halting my approach. “Easy, Rowan. He’s handling it.”
I glare at him, my fangs itching to extend. “He’s handling too much. That wolf’s looking at him like dinner.”
Amand’s lips twitch, but he doesn’t let go. “Trust him. He’s got his magic, and we’re here if it goes south.”
I force myself to stop, my eyes locked on Lev. He’s brushing off the wolf now, his tail swishing awkwardly, and I catch a glimpse of his smirk, all confidence and snark. It eases the knot in my chest, but only slightly.
Lev moves toward the bar, his fox form fading as he shifts back to his own appearance, Silas’ scent still clinging to him. He orders a drink, leaning against the counter, and I catch a flicker of movement in the shadows behind him.
Amand jostles my shoulder, stealing my attention. “Over there, near the balcony. Dark hair, moving fast.”
I follow his gaze, spotting a figure in a black suit, his movements a little too fluid for my liking. My nose catches a whiff of something similar to what was lingering on the shifter in Lev’s car. It’s faint, masked by the crowd, but it’s there.Elias. My beast roars as I get ready to charge, but Amand’s hand on my arm stops me.
“Wait,” he says. “Let Lev draw him out. We jump too soon, he bolts.”
He’s right, but every second we wait feels like an eternity. Lev’s still at the bar, his drink untouched, his eyes darting to the balcony. He’s sensed the same thing we have, Lev movingtoward the open doors, and my heart lurches. He’s baiting Elias and it’s working.
I’m just a little worried about how far Lev is from us. At this distance, we can’t easily step in. Still, we move toward him, watching as the black figure steps out once Lev reaches the balcony. It’s like watching in slow motion as Lev presses his hand over his pocket, my brows frowning when my phone rings. I slip it from my jacket, only to see the black figure whisper something into Lev’s ear and then disappear into the darkness.
One second, they’re there and the next second, the balcony is empty.
“Fuck!” I snarl, sprinting to where they were just standing. I fucking knew that this was a horrible idea. Amand’s already calling for backup but Lily’s drunk answer just pisses me off. They said they’d have our backs and now this? Lev isgone. Gerald is Amand’s next call, the shifter kicking it into high gear as he mentions that he’ll be monitoring the parking lot.
I’m pretty sure they’re far gone, though, with whatever stupid ass unicorn magic Elias just used. This feels like a bad fucking dream. My phone continues to buzz in my hand and I finally pick it up, relieved to hear Lev’s voice and then furious because he’s not at our side.
“Elias, you don’t have to do this. Let me go, and we can talk.”
“Shut up,” a voice hisses back. “You’re mine, Lev. Silas doesn’t deserve you.”
My blood runs cold, and Amand’s eyes meet mine, his face paling slightly. “Track it. Essence has tech for this, right?”
He nods, already texting Gerald. “He’s already on it. Oh, wow, seems Gerald already installed tracking technology on our devices. That’s not creepy at all. Wonderful. They’re headed back to the grove. Let’s go.”
I’m already moving. “Do we have backup?”
Amand nods again. “Yeah, a few shifters from Essence.” He snorts. “Gerald is going to have a word with Lily.”
Wonderful. I hope he strangles her magic or something, too. “Let’s go get our mate back. This time, I’m not waiting to kill Elias or Silas for that matter.” I put the phone on speaker as we rush to the entrance and hop into our car to speed toward the edge of the grove. There’s silence on the other line but I can hear Lev’s faint breathing.
